Small Bore Connectors in the Welsh NHS - Supporting Information

ISO 80369 ("Small-bore connectors for liquids and gases in healthcare applications") is a new standard (most parts being published in 2016) which specifies general requirements for small-bore connectors, which convey liquids or gases in healthcare applications. These small-bore connectors are used in medical devices or accessories intended for use with a patient. The intention of the standard is to reduce the risk of wrong-route delivery of enteral solutions, intrathecal medication or compressed gases associated with medical devices which use Luer or flexible connectors, by ensuring that none of the connectors in the series can cross-connect with any other.

In 2015, the first devices devices with enteral connectors (enterel administration sets using the ISO 80369-3 'ENFit' connector) were deployed in the UK, including the Welsh NHS. 2016 saw the completion of the ISO 80369-3 rollout in the Welsh NHS, and 2017 will see neuraxial devices (spinal needles, epidural catheters) replace their Luer connectors with ISO 80369-6 connectors.

Supporting material to help Welsh NHS organisations can be found below: